Man pleads guilty to murder of wife

SALT LAKE CITY — A man with a long history of violence has pleaded guilty to murder in the stabbing death of his estranged wife in October.

Daniel Leonard Olivera, 33, was due to have a two-day preliminary hearing starting Tuesday, but he instead entered a guilty plea to murder, a first-degree felony. As part of the plea agreement, 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas dismissed three other charges — one count of aggravated assault and two counts of child abuse, all third-degree felonies.

Himonas set Feb. 22 for Olivera's sentencing.

A man was baby-sitting a 10-year-old boy and a 6-month-old baby in the Glendale four-plex where Lisa Olivera was living on Oct. 2. Daniel and Lisa Olivera, as well as other residents there, had gone out for the evening. Then the Oliveras returned to the apartment and began to argue.

The man who was baby-sitting went outside to smoke a cigarette but spotted Daniel Olivera running by him on Green Street, according to court documents. The man went inside and found Lisa Olivera on the kitchen table bleeding from a single stab wound to the neck.

The 10-year-old boy also came into the room and saw Lisa Olivera in that condition.

Daniel Olivera's sister told police that her brother arrived at her home covered in blood, saying he had just stabbed his wife and threatening the sister and the man who was living with her, court documents state.

The male roommate told police that earlier in the day, Olivera had called him and told him to come to Lisa Olivera's apartment.

When the man arrived, a fight ensued, the man ran off with Daniel Olivera in pursuit, brandishing a knife, court documents say.

Olivera's criminal history includes aggravated assault, assault by a prisoner, disorderly conduct and attempted production of a controlled substance.

He also is wanted by a New Mexico court for allegedly violating probation there.

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com